SGS Winter Mag.indd 1 20/12/2019 10:12 BASKETBALL HOCKEY The basketball season got off First year hockey players had to a great start for the U19s their first outing during the term with the team winning its first when they played in a local two matches! The U19s won blitz hosted by the Ur- 53-51 against St. Mel’s College suline College. It was a great Longford and beat St. Colman’s way to get a flavour of competi- College Claremorris 48-20. tion before the League begins. They sadly lost to St. Brendan’s College Belmullet 59-52 despite their best efforts. Our basket- ball coach is Mr. Flores, who welcomes anyone who wishes to try basketball. The U16’s and U19’s train on Mondays and Fri- days, while 1st and 2nd years Lara Swann (3rd yr) was pre- train on Tuesdays. We wish all sented with her first Interprovin- the teams the best of luck in all cial hockey cap at U16 level. their upcoming matches and we She is the know they will make us proud. first SGS student to ROWING play at this The SGS Rowing Club got off level in many to a start this year with a team years. Well competing in the inaugural Sli- done Lara! go Indoor Rowing Blitz in Octo- ber. The new rowers acquitted GOLF themselves well, finishing sec- Two 2nd year girls, ond in one of the competitions. Sophie Reyn- As well as training on the row- olds and Meabh ing machines the club members McLoughlin took get out on the river courtesy of part in the Irish the Sligo Rowing Club. Schools Junior Golf Competition this year. The girls won the final which was a gross competition of 18 holes. They are now qualified for the All-Ireland final, which will be held in the new year.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 2 20/12/2019 10:12 RUGBY FOOTBALL This year Sligo fielded a girls soccer team. The girls took part in the Connacht B Cup, playing against St Clare’s Comprehen- sive School , Manorhamilton and St Patrick’s College, Lack- This was an outstanding term en Cross. Unfortunately, they for rugby at SGS. The highlight lost both matches but played was the winning of the Con- very well, especially 1st years, nacht Schools A Senior League Tara, Sophie, Saoirse and Mimi. in December with a hard-fought Almost half this team was made victory over . up of two families – Lara and The score: 21 - 12. Hubert Gil- Sophie Swann and Saoirse, varry, Kacper Palamarczuk and Meabh and Roisin Gillmor! Lara William Whelan were all capped Swann also represented Con- by Connacht and Kacper got an nacht in the Irish Schools U15 Irish cap in October, against Ita- Interprovincial soccer tourna- ly. The team are looking forward ment. Well to their first Connacht Schools done Lara! Cup match against Colaiste The boys Iognaid (Jes), Galway in Janu- team also had ary. The Juniors won 3 of their 7 a good year League matches with victories so far in their over the Bish and Jes from Gal- Connacht A way and St. Muredachs College, Cup. They Ballina, they had some narrow competed defeats but are confident of a good run in the Cup after Christ- against teams including Clar- mas. The U14 squad has played egalway College, St Geralds 5 matches, winning 3, drawing 1 College, Castleber and Sum- and losing 1. They have several merhill College. They were very fixtures left in the U14 League unlucky not to come away with to be played in the new year. three wins, especially in the Claregalway match when the rival team scored in the final seconds. Luke Mavrack was the youngest player on the team at 14 years old. Best of luck to both teams next term.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 3 20/12/2019 10:12 KAYAKING RTE RECORDING

Sligo Gram- mar School The Sligo Grammar School Kayaking Choir, musicians, Head boy, Club is go- Head Girl, staff, clergy and ing strong representatives of the Board this year, and Incorporated Society meeting travelled to Dublin to record every Tues- this year’s RTE Christmas Day day and Carol Service. Although the Thursday process was a long one, taking after school. over three-and-a-half hours, the On 8th October SGS hosted experience of being in RTE was a kayaking competition. Var- second to none! Traditional and ious schools and clubs were modern carols were featured in attendance including The and the figured Ursuline College, CTC, Sligo strongly. Trad.musicians Kate Community Training Centre and Gavin, Eilish Needham and Summerhill College. In the com- Christopher Curran played as petition the Grammar School as did flautist Saoirse Gillmor, won the best overall school and trumpeters, Johannes Ka- award. Our kayakers also took vanagh and Nicodemus Milsch, part in the Liffey Descent. This all enriching the service with year there was a record number both culture and variety. The of 48 students taking part, with service was introduced by the Alannah Walton winning the Headmaster and led by Canon promising paddler award. Well Patrick Bamber along with a va- done to all involved and thanks riety of students, teachers and to Mr. Cradock for all the hard board members contributing work. the readings.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 4 20/12/2019 10:12 CAROL SERVICE ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL This year’s Students travelled to St. Pat- carol service rick’s Cathedral, Dublin on took place the 19th of September with on Decem- Mr. Potter and Ms. O’Neill. ber 13th in The service was for Church of Calry par- Ireland schools and it marked ish church. the kickoff of the school year. A variety On the way up the bus stopped of carols; at Liffey Valley for some lunch traditional and well-deserved shopping! and modern were sung by the choir along with a selection of readings and prayers. It was a great occasion and was a lovely way to close the term. The church door collection was in aid of Sligo Soicial Services and over €300 was collected. The TRIP TO THE BOARD GAIS week leading up to the Carol THEATRE Service also saw the school In October the TY’s (with some collect non-perishable food- 5th years who were in the stuffs for Sligo Social Servic- school musical) and Mr. Lynch, es. A huge amount of items Mr. O’Donnell, Ms. Tansey and were gathered by students Ms. Breslin headed up to Dub- from all year lin to watch “Grease - the Mu- groups. Well sical” in the Bórd Gais Theatre. done every- We set off at around 9am with body! our speakers fully charged for some great music and singing on the bus! The show was amazing and an inspiration for us as we went into rehearsal for our own school musical. The students found it both be- nificial and great craic! Thanks to the teachers for taking us.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 5 20/12/2019 10:12 SPELLING BEE REMEMBRANCE SERVICE On the 18th In November SGS held its An- of October nual Act of Remembrance and the first years Reconciliation in Calry Church. competed in Special guests included rep- the SGS Spell- resentatives from different ing Bee com- Churches, the Gardaí Síochana, petition. The the Irish Defence Forces, The competition was organized by British Legion and Irish United Ms. Treacy and the SGS English Nations Veterans Association. department and took place over Bishop Patrick Rooke, Bishop the course of 2 lessons in the of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, old sports hall after mini heats led the prayers while the school during class. Sound equipment choir sang. The congregation was provided by Mr. Lynch was addressed by Bishop and Mr. O’Donnell so everyone Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin, could hear the spellers clearly. who spoke about the great The results were as follows; sacrifices made by Irish sol- 1st: Dawn Enabulele (1C); 2nd: diers and Gardaí in the pursuit Daniel Akude (1B); 3rd: Isis of justice. The central part of Cashmann-Legg (1B). The win- the ceremony was the laying of ner was given a beautiful tro- wreaths to commemorate the phy. Well done to all involved, it fallen. Following two minutes was a great success! of silence the Last Post and AOIFE AT THE NYO Rouse was played by German Aoife Winters O’Donnell has International been playing the flute since she student Nicode- was 4 years old with the Sligo mus Milsch. Academy of Music. In October she auditioned for the Nation- al Youth Orchestra and was offered one of only four places in the flute section. She will be attending a residential course in Dublin over Christmas to prepare for three concerts in January. These concerts will be performed in Cork, Galway and Dublin. Congratulations Aoife!

SGS Winter Mag.indd 6 20/12/2019 10:12 PRIZE DAY Sligo Grammar School’s Annu- al Prize Day was held in Calry Church on 23rd October. The Church was filled to the brim as the whole school turned out to celebrate the accomplish- ments of their classmates. The guest speaker was Dr. Ken Byrne senior lecturer in UL and the Irish Representative on the JUNIOR SCHOOL FIELD International Panel for Climate Change. This year the Perry TRIPS Cup for TY Student of the Year This term, as part of their was presented to Emma Gal- SPHE course 3rd yrs carried lagher. Junior Cert 2019 student out a beach cleanup and had Conor Robinson achieved per- a talk on ocean pollution in fect grades in his exams, and the school. The 2nd years also was awarded the Gold Medal for took part in The Wonderstruck Junior Cert presented by Dami- Rocket Show as part of the IT en Tansey Solicitors. The Silver Science Week. The first year Medal for the Junior Cert was Business classes went on a trip presented to Robyn Scott who to Butlers Chocolate Factory in had the second best results December. There they got a tour in the school. The Farra Cup, of the factory as well as some presented to the student who quality chocolate to sample! contributed most to school life, went to Juno Ellison. The Head- master’s Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Leaving Cert went to Conall O’Dwyer who achieved 625 points, the maximum possible, in the Leaving Cert 2019.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 7 20/12/2019 10:12 IRISH ANGUS GIRLS GAISCE This year, just like previous years, the school was very involved in the Gaisce pro- gramme. Lots of TY’s started the process of earning the bronze medal and usually some 5th years go on and work for In mid-September the 5th year the silver medal. This year we girls who are national finalists had 27 students completing in the Irish Angus Beef Com- their Bronze Gaisce Award. petition attended the National During TY they took on a phys- Ploughing Championships in ical skill, a personal skill and County Carlow. The girls were a community involvement on site from 7.30 am to 5pm activity. The final part of their each day. They were also inter- Gaisce Award was to complete viewed three times a day and an Adventure Journey. On the asked a myriad of questions. 29th of August, they travelled to The girls have to get involved Westport, where they cycled the in the promotion of Irish Angus Greenway from Achill to West- beef and they explained what port, a distance of nearly 50 km. their promotional ideas were for The students stayed overnight the next 18 months. One of their in a hostel in Westport. Our main aims involves the promo- Bronze Gaisce Award students tion of their book ‘Embrace – should be congratulated on Day on the Farm’, illustrated by their achievement and their Sarah Cunningham and aimed enthusiasm and commitment at primary school children. The to the award. Thank you to Ms. girls hope to publish another Tiernan and Mrs. Lipsett for book soon. The girls were given making it all possible! 5 calves to rear over the next 2 years and after the Ploughing Championships the calves were taken to their new home on Rebecca Harte’s farm. The girls want to thank Miss Higgins for her support and guidance and Jonathan Harte for looking after the calves. Well done cowgirls!

SGS Winter Mag.indd 8 20/12/2019 10:12 SENIOR SCHOOL FIELD TALKS AND LECTURES TRIPS During the year many people This year Field Trips continue come to the school to speak on to play a vital part of the educa- a variety of topics. This term tion of all our students. Here is 2nd and 3rd years received an a flavour of what has been on important and informative talk offer... on cyber bullying. The Junior Leaving Cert LCVP class went School also had a talk/work- to visit Abbot Ireland as part of shop from Pieta House which their studies. They also attend- discussed resilience, a very ed a Business Breakfast in aid important topic as our students of SVP with the Leaving Cert face a lot of pressures and Business students. TY’s and need to learn about balance in 5th years attended a talk by a their lives. In October, students Chartered Accountant in Sligo heard a talk on the relationship IT. 5th and 6th year Art students between science and religion, went on an Art History trip to organised by Canon Bamber. Dublin. They visited Castletown The term ended with a series House, the National Museum of Careers talks organised by and the National Art Gallery. In Ms McGuinness to help seniors September Ms. O’Neill and Ms. chose University courses. Moore brought the senior Ge- ography classes to the Diffreen River. The students studied the meander at the foot of the Glencar Waterfall which they will write up for their Leaving Certificate project. The TY fash- ion group visited a fabric shop where they learnt about fabrics (so they could choose wise- ly when making their Grease costumes!) then went to the NW Hospice Charity Shop to look at clothes for up-cycling. In October all sixth years traveled to Dublin to see ‘The Playboy of the Western World’, which is the play on their Leaving Cert English course.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 9 20/12/2019 10:12 SCHOOL MUSICAL 2019 We returned refreshed after our summer break and excited to begin the journey of GREASE, the musical. Auditions were held on the first day of school and after numerous callbacks the cast emerged. Then the backstage crew was put together - no production would be possible without their hard work behind the scenes. The enthusiasm and the hard work of the crew and teachers was infectious and all of us involved were ex- cited and committed to the pro- ject. It’s hard to believe all the work across so many strands that came together to result in a great show, following in the footsteps of all the past Sligo Grammar School musicals and plays! Rehearsals grew more and more intense as the open- ing night grew nearer, with everyone spening hours in the old gym. Practice took place during school hours and into the evening. The cast tried to learn lines, dances and songs, and the backstage crew worked flat out on hair and makeup, props, costumes and sound effects.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 10 20/12/2019 10:12 All too soon it was showtime! The musical opened for the first night on November 26th and finished on November 29th to an uproarious standing ovation from an enthralled audience. The cast were delighted to learn that the show sold out 3 out of the 4 nights! All those involved had a bril- liant time and take away many happy memories from the experience. We would like to especially thank Ms. Tansey, Michelle Feeney, Ms. Breslin, Ms Stinson, Mrs Hall and Mr. Potter, and all the many oth- ers that made Grease a brilliant journey for us all.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 11 20/12/2019 10:12 DEBATING CREATIVE WRITING

LIFE AFTER THE TRENCHES… Hush, hush, hush. Listen to me and you see. You will hear. What happens beyond the sea. There is life after the trenches. That, is your fate. The debating club, SGS Deb- For not all are as fortunate. I Soc, is going strongly this term have heard the cries of bombing. with over 20 consistent attend- I have seen the pain in gunfire. ees from all class groups. Once Do not go. I urge you. For your again some of our debaters fate will be at fault. There is life took part in the Sligo Soapbox after the trenches. I will show Public Speaking Competition you. with 4 competing: Alfie Barron (2nd year), Ethan Johnston (4th They say go; go and fulfil your year), Mia Brandon (3rd year) duty. Do not listen to their seduc- and Matthew Ryan (3rd year). tive voices. Listen to me. they will This year’s topic was ‘Climate kill you. they will take everything change is not my problem’. from you in the blink of an eye. There were about 30 speakers They will gather other warriors competing in the County Li- and replace you when you fall on brary. The students put in lots abandoned ground. of work and spoke brilliantly. you say goodbye to your belov- No prizes this year, but a great ed. Embrace them. as for when achievement! The final week of you step a foot on to that battle- classes saw a public Lunchtime field you can also say goodbye to Debate. the motion: This House your future. Would Liberate Santa’s Elves! There is no life after entering the The proposition won! Well done marshy land. There is life after the to all our debaters. trenches as for some; some live the rest of their lives in the flam- ing sky.

Jean Van Aswegen

SGS Winter Mag.indd 12 20/12/2019 10:12 CREATIVE WRITING JERSEY by Aaron McCloat David Lloyd George said anything can be achieved in small, deliberate steps. But there are times you need the courage to take a great leap; you can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps. Those low vibratory murmurs once again draw me from my temporary hiberna- tion into the early rise of the channel sun. Charlie the cat peacefully rests at my feet hogging most of my bed for the last time. The old man of Plemont stands tall over the peaceful bay. Although he is not a person, the 56 metre tall protrusion of the cliff has been given a personality within my mind of a strong protective character. And today we part ways. My anxious mind seems to make even more figures out of the weirdly shaped ceiling paper that I stare at every morning than usual. One step in Jersey, one step in Sligo? No. The final decision was made by Mum and Dad that this wasn’t the way to go. So here I am sitting in my room doing it, completely flipping our lives upside down. Into the complete unknown, no friends, no concept of what I was doing but we’re going for it. The realisa- tion hits me with great force, stealing my breath with every thought of it. Doubt, excitement, optimism, sadness all placed into a huge pot and churned up to put butterflies in my stomach. But still Charlie purrs quite contently. He hasn’t a clue what’s happening. I shuffle from my room through the maze of packed boxes to the bathroom then onwards to the almost empty cupboards. My bowl that I have relied on for the past 3 weeks once again serves me for my Weetabix and Frost- ies. The peculiar feeling of leaving my lifelong house to drive into the unknown. A calculated risk is all we go on as a family but once again ‘there are times where you need to take a great leap.’ The house and the island is not what I was most scared of. Jason Creavy. My best friend, the short hard working bubbly spark that you need around you in such an insular place. I had never had a friend like this boy, I can talk to him and he would never speak a word of it again, a sponge for complaints and my best friend. I knew it was going to be hard leaving him but I felt a slight unnerving numbness about the situation, a severe carry forward realising that there is no going back. Jersey was good, as I’ve come into my teenage years, I have realised the gap between rich and poor, a tax haven, a hive for million and billionaires. So focused on the money drive it would make the working man sick. Making buying a house there for the new buyers almost impossible. I don’t want that, I don’t want a struggle like that at the beginning of my life. Moving to Ireland and studying in the Sligo Grammar School will open doors for all of the family, doors to better more open jobs rather than just a banker. Opening doors to the European Union. Both my brother and I have realised the importance of educa- tion and the focus and drive that a successful future demands. And we are here doing it, not one step here and one step there, we are here now and I see the reasons. The engine, starts with a confident sigh from my Mum, Dad, Dylan and I. A tear filled with memories of cowboys and Indians, BBQ’s on the beach, running to the water’s edge before last light for the bucket of water. Christmases spent with an amazing amount of good and weird party pieces. A place where I have grown physically, mentally and socially to face the big world. Standing on the starboard forward deck we look back at St Aubins twinkly lights blanketing the bay. Holding it close in our memories. Glancing back to look forward.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 13 20/12/2019 10:12 POETRY SLAM COMEDY AT THE HAWKS In September all TY classes WELL took part in the Poetry Slam In September the TYs went to workshop run by Stephen Mur- the Hawks Well Theatre to see ray. The workshop focussed Ger Carey’s stand-up come- on helping young people build dy show. Not knowing what confidence in their literary to expect we shuffled into the skills, as well as public speak- balcony seats. Two hours later ing and more advanced rhetor- we rose with a stitch in our side ical techniques. The workshop and spring in our step. The co- was effective as the lecturer median found a way of deriving was credible and witty. The humor from everyday life situ- whole experience was thor- ations in school as they relate oughly enjoyable. to characters, in and out of the SURFING classroom. Well worth the visit! As part of the Transition Year SPECIAL OLYMPICS P.E. course we got the chance In No- to go surfing for four weeks. vember Our surfing skills really im- 18 TY proved over the course of the students 4 weeks and we all had many headed chances to stand up on our surf down boards and catch some waves. to Sligo We really enjoyed surfing and Sports Complex to volunteer at it will be a very hard P.E. class the Connaught Special Olym- to top! The final surfing session pics swimming competition. was completed with a trip to They assisted with the compet- Mammy Johnston’s for some itors, the timing of the races well-earned crepes and ice and other similar jobs. The TYs cream. would like to thank Mr. Crad- dock for giving them the oppor- tunity.

SGS Winter Mag.indd 14 20/12/2019 10:12 ST. CECILIA’S SUS LIVING This year the TY’s had a mod- ule involving students from St. Cecilia’s Special School. We got to play some sports and other activities with the pupils. All the TYs thoroughly enjoyed this module and felt it was an amazing experience. COLLEGES VISIT In December all TY’s travelled Ms McIntyre is to Dublin to visit the Colleges. leading a Sustain- The choices were Trinity, UCD able Living mod- and DCU. The students got a ule in TY. The aim chance to consider where they is to develop the might like to study after the Herm garden as a Leaving Cert. After the educa- centre of organ- tional part of the trip the bus ic and sustainable gardening stopped at Swords Pavilion practices and of biodiversity. Shopping Centre. Everyone The TYs also aim to increase went ice-skating and shopping. biodiversity in the garden by An unforgettable and Christ- planting bee and bird loving massy day was had by all. To plants. This term TYs have as- further help TYs, 5th and 6th sembled raised beds under the yrs with choosing Colleges and guidance of Mr Geraghty, our courses, talks were organised woodwork teacher. The stu- from Colleges including NUIG, dents have installed the beds in UL, Sligo IT, and NUIM as well the Herm Garden but are now as talks about apprenticeships. on the lookout for good black GREEN SCHOOL soil so that spring planting can This year SGS is working to- begin, both in the raised beds wards earning the first Green and elsewhere in the old walled Schools flag. Ms Caldwell and garden. The soil in the garden her team of TY students are is lacking in essential nutri- encouraging us all to reduce ents, so, if anyone reading this waste in the school. Recycling knows of good quality soil that and food waste bins have been might be available for use in introduced around the school this very worthy project, please so...do your bit for the world! contact the school!

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